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  The reason for the smaller crew made more sense. It still felt insanely dangerous, flat-out suicidal had they shown up and found fifty people there… or a hundred. I wonder what he would’ve done. She half imagined he would’ve ordered Dora to blast the place, taking the buildings out in the process.

  No, it has to be intact for when Loch comes home. Torrence slowed as she reached a door on the right. Glancing in, she didn’t find anyone. Moving to the next opening, she peeked in.

  A man knocked the barrel aside, punching her in the face. The helmet absorbed the blow, making him cry out.

  Torrence shoved him away, kicking him in the groin before turning the weapon on him. He held up his hand, shouting at her to wait as she put him down. The rest of the room proved empty. She stepped back into the hall.

  A shot hit her on the shoulder, making her stumble, but it wasn’t enough force to put her down. Armor saved her life, the HUD showed it had another two, maybe three shots in it before it wouldn’t be capable of taking another. Damn, MerCon really does make incredible gear. Bastards held out on us.

  She caught sight of her attacker hiding in a doorway. They moved back into cover.

  Torrence knelt again, this time pressing against the wall while aiming at the portal. She drew a deep breath, forcing herself to be patient. The man peeked out again a moment later… she pulled the trigger, blasting the wall directly beside him. He screamed, likely burned from the proximity of the attack.

  When he made the sound, she charged, rapidly blasting the wall where he hid. As she arrived, he opened up, but she didn’t burst in on him. Instead, she leaned her weapon around, firing from high to low.

  He stopped shooting and she took a look. A smoking hole in his neck gave her confirmation that the target was down.

  “Met some resistance,” McCully said. “Three down over here.”

  “Two here,” Torrence said. “Continuing sweep.”

  “Five more over here,” Zem said. “Should only be four assholes left. Dora, get me a sensor sweep. Feed it to our HUDs. Nostros, is Biggun secure?”

  “Yeah, he ain’t going anywhere,” Nostros replied.

  One person burst out in front of Torrence, running for the end of the hall. She took a shot, narrowly missing him to the left. He fired a pistol behind him, totally blind, that came shockingly close to a clean hit. She jerked herself to the left away from his weapon arm then laid down a barrage.

  Cutting him down at the knees, he let out a heavy grunt then crawled toward the exit. Torrence took aim to put him down for good when someone jumped her from the left, slamming her into the wall. Her rifle fell from her hands, hanging from its strap. Her attacker worked the body, though the armor absorbed the blows, she still felt them.

  Throwing an elbow, she caught the guy in the head, but it didn’t get him off of her. He kept at it, introducing a knife a moment later. The blade slammed into her side, but it didn’t penetrate. She spun with a huff, shoving him away. Instinct told her to go for her pistol. Her opponent was too on it; too adrenalized.

  He came back at her in an instant. She blocked a blow to the left, following up with a jab to his nose. Without an armor to protect him, the hit shattered the cartilage, splattering blood against the wall. Even that didn’t deter him. He came at her again, flailing his fists. She held her arms up, twisting and weaving to absorb his attacks.

  Torrence tossed a knee, getting him in the gut. He huffed before grabbing her by the front of her armor. That was it. Once he grappled her, she drew her pistol. He grabbed her wrist, but it was too late. She got him in the hip. As he crumpled, she pressed the barrel to his head… pulled the trigger… ended him.

  The guy crawling away made it to the door, but he hadn’t gone through. Torrence shot him in the back then leaned against the wall.

  “Pretty sure this side’s clear.” She kept her weapon aimed at the open portal. “You guys?”

  “They’re done,” Zem said. “McCully, find the control room. I suspect there are some other pricks hiding in a panic room that might be shielded. House servants or something. You’ll have access there. Torrence, meet up with her for security. I’m heading back to the ship to chat with our host about how he’s going to help us.”

  “You sound pretty sure that we’ve got this,” McCully replied. “You think we can lock this place down?”

  “Because Loch has a bunch of guys he’ll bring with him, is that it?” Zem asked. “Yeah, I’ve got a plan for that too. Hurry up. We may not have a lot of time.”

  I’d love the whole plan. Torrence pushed away from the wall, heading back the way she came. The intersection acted as a reasonable rendezvous. And what’s he intend to do with the civilians? They can’t possibly help us with Loch. Some asshole pirate won’t have told them anything of value.

  She had to err on the side of Zem. He knew that world; what their opponents were all about and thinking. If he decided to start killing innocents, that wouldn’t go over well with any of the others. I wonder if he did this kind of thing when he worked in the military. Special Forces guys often were reputed to do whatever it took to get a job done.

  Including atrocities? Torrence waited for McCully, wishing she could take the helmet off. Sweat covered her face, partially from exertion but also nerves. I like that guy… this side of him actually scares me. She figured his attitude would put anyone off. How exactly did Rita put up with it?

  Torrence figured they never had to get so dark. Their jobs weren’t all that intense. Stealing things didn’t have to result in murder. And definitely didn’t require the kind of killer instinct he displayed. I guess it’s good to be his friend if he’s willing to do all this to get her back safely.

  But if she was hurt, heaven help Loch. Zem will kill that guy. Of that, I have no doubt. He probably would anyway for the inconvenience. And it likely wouldn’t be pretty.

  ***

  Rita ensured the doors locked before getting cleaned up. Loch’s facilities looked like a resort ship. The flashiness of it all struck her as funny. White towels hung neatly in the washroom. Tile floor reminded her of facilities back at Noah’s house on Earth though the gold-colored fixtures set it apart.

  Most of the ship seemed to worry a lot about aesthetics. Even the walk down the hall to get to her assigned quarters saw wood paneling and carpet on the floor. She figured the more work-oriented sections would be more utilitarian, like fancy space stations that went for a high-end feel.

  But she couldn’t guarantee that. The Engineering section might’ve had spinning disco balls for all she knew. And considering how Loch acted when she stepped off the ship, it wouldn’t have surprised her either. If I only we’d known this guy was so much of a freak. We should have found another way to make ends meet.

  After cleaning up, she changed into a pair of black leggings and a matching long-sleeved shirt. A dress sat on the bed next to the outfit, which made her huff. Hope springs eternal. You asshole. The reasoning made sense for a couple reasons. First, he showed his desire for her to look traditionally ‘feminine,’ but that wasn’t it.

  Had she settled on that thing, he was the kind of man who would push his ‘masculinity,’ talk about how he knew better or just generally talk down to her. Well, you’ve got another thing coming at your stupid dinner. The masquerade kept her alive, but she desperately wished he would’ve just been straightforward.

  If he listens to what happened, if he thinks about it, then he’ll know I wasn’t trying to screw him over. Loch had been in business a long time. Not every job could be a success which led her to believe he couldn’t possibly kill or make an example of everyone who failed. I guess it’s possible. Wouldn’t we have heard about that?

  Loch didn’t strike her as a man capable of hiding a reputation of murdering people who worked with him. She figured he’d want potential partners to know so they’d ensure delivery of service. I’d have changed my mind about this asshole. Goddammit! One lapse in judgment and I’m deep in the shit.

  One la
st thing remained before she visited Loch. The metal case by the bed held refined ether. The effects of withdrawal already tickled the back of her mind. She had to get a fix in before she visited him. He let her keep the computer for the purposes of scanning it. When she did, he proved to be true to his word.

  It was safe. Or as safe as the stuff ever was.

  I wonder why they even have it. Rita leaned back as she prepared the shot. Surely, people aren’t taking this recreationally. I didn’t think anyone was stupid enough for that. Why not go for designer drugs that weren’t guaranteed to kill them? Those seeking a thrill didn’t often care about such things.

  Rita popped jabbed herself in the neck, taking the dose. The familiar freeing sensation rushed through her limbs, cleared her mind, made breathing easier. Everything felt normal though she half expected it not to at any moment. Remember, the scan was fine. She set the stuff aside before heading to the door.

  “Hey!” She whacked at the metal a couple times. “I’m ready to see Loch! Let me out of here already!”

  The guards opened the door. Neither of them said anything but they did gesture for her to follow them. They walked down the hall, passing by ten different doors before pausing. One knocked. Loch opened it himself, wearing a goofy smile and a silk, purple shirt. His black pants were way too tight, but the overall outfit hid his figure.

  “That didn’t take long,” Loch stepped aside, “come in.” He closed the door behind her. “I’m disappointed. I thought you’d try out the cosmetics in the room. Maybe you didn’t find them. They were in the drawer by the sink. If you just—”

  “Cut the shit,” Rita interrupted. “Why’re you trying to doll me up? What’s the point of that?”

  “Just thought you’d like to be a girl for a change.” Loch smiled. “You know. Live the life you were born to.”

  Rita’s room had been far more lavish than any she’d stayed in for a while. Loch’s took that to an extreme level of stupid. It looked more like a cheesy gambling resort rather than a place a person might actually live. Black walls reflected the light. Thick carpet seemed more likely to be found in a tacky apartment than a starship.

  The tables were silver with sparkling cutlery and real glasses. Even the light fixtures had some gold tint to them, which made for a warmer illumination in the room as a whole. That was just the living area. Rita figured the bedroom must’ve been completely ridiculous. And he probably figures I want to have a look.

  “Just to clarify, you think that because I’m a woman, I’m desperate for…actually, I don’t even know how to quantify it. What’re you hoping to achieve here?”

  “I’ve got a proposition for you.” Loch gestured for her to take a seat at the table. Trays were laid out with silver domes over the plates. “I like you. When you came to talk to me before you had some serious spunk. You’ve evaded the hell out of me several times. My people are jokes it seems. Likely that military training, hmm?”

  Rita shrugged.

  “Modest too, I guess. But in any event, I think we can make an arrangement. You owe me a lot of money. A lot.”

  “I wouldn’t go that far,” Rita replied. “You’d have been repaid after that single job.”

  “Yes, but I wasn’t. And I don’t think you’ve got the cash on you, right?” Loch chuckled. “Nor can you drum it up easily. I’m sure you thought I wanted to kill you. A fair assessment after the trouble you’ve caused me but I’ve got a better plan.” He leaned forward. “But let’s talk about that after we’ve eaten a bit, shall we? Take a look.”

  Rita sighed. Why don’t you just get to the point, freak? She moved the tray aside, revealing a steak, potato, and green beans. The dome kept it hot. The food steamed. Her stomach growled despite herself. Traitor. The physical reaction annoyed her. Made her feel beholden to his hospitality.

  “Looks lovely.” Rita chose a new tactic. She dug into the food, ignoring him for a good five minutes while she ate. Between the fight back at Gallik and all the other stress bothering her, she was ravenous. His chef really knew how to hit the spot as well. The meal was incredible. “It’s good.”

  “Thanks, I’ll pass that along.” Loch grinned. “Rita, you’re a talented woman. I think you were hampered by bad luck and a crew that wasn’t necessarily up to snuff. You’ve got potential to do things that are frankly spectacular. So I’m giving you an offer that I think you’d be a fool to turn down.”

  “I’m listening,” Rita replied. She kept eating without looking at him.

  “You’ve got training. Smarts. These are things my people are sorely lacking. I want to use that. Double duty. I’ll pay big.”

  “Double what?” Rita lifted a brow.

  “You’ll train my people. Whip them into shape. Make sure they don’t screw up like those two dumbasses we gunned down in the hangar. And… you’ll also be my personal bodyguard. Keep me alive. Make sure I don’t do anything stupid.” He chuckled. “I’m prone to making some poor decisions once in a while.”

  “I’m sure.” Rita leaned back in her seat. “I’m not even sure what to say to all of this. You’re seriously telling me your idea is that I’m going to be, what… watching your back? Being your keeper?”

  “And training people up. I don’t want you to get bored. Though we have all the recreation you could want. Plus, you’ll never have to worry about where you’ll get your ether.”

  “So this is how the indentured servitude works?”

  “Usually, I strong-arm people into some other job. A hard one that nearly guarantees they won’t come back. If they do, great deal for me. If not, a problem’s resolved. Either way, I win in those cases.”

  “Killing assets is winning to you?” Rita rolled her eyes. “Unless the people are totally incompetent, then you’re wasting talent.”

  “Great advice.” Loch nodded his head. “I appreciate it. But anyway… this isn’t indentured servitude. It’s a job. You don’t have a crew anymore. Everyone you ran with is scattered or dead. There’s no way you’re gagging to get back into bed with the Confeds. Gold Empire’s out. That leaves starting over or settling in. I recommend the latter.”

  “Training your people and acting as a bodyguard seems like a lot. You know my gigs didn’t take all my time. One of the reasons I came out to the frontier was to get out of the whole full-time work thing. I did plenty of that in the service. So I don’t know.”

  Rita avoided the obvious topic. That of ‘extracurricular expectations.’ That would come up, considering his desire to give her a makeover. But first, she wanted to string along the job itself. Of course, I could just accept the job. That would give me plenty of time to leave. It’s not like he could stop me.

  However, the nature of the position meant she stayed close to him which meant escape would have to be a blatant betrayal. She wouldn’t be sent out on missions for him nor requested to do anything that required her to leave his side. That was how he intended to keep her on a leash.

  “I’d like to brush on an unpleasant topic,” Rita said. “What happens if I say no?”

  Loch scowled. “You don’t want to do that, do you? Go someplace we both would regret? After all, I’m giving you an opportunity no one else gets. Tossing this in my face would be stupid and I know you’re not that. So don’t be stubborn just for the sake of it. We both know you’re going to say yes.”

  “But you’ll kill me if I don’t, right? I mean, I just want to know the gravity of this decision. Because while you’re definitely top loading the positives, I’m concerned about the negative. And what if it’s not for me? How long do I have to do this job before I can leave? You know… regular stuff that someone should worry about.”

  “Here I was thinking you wanted to ask why I’m so intrigued by you specifically. Why I want you around as a bodyguard. Why I tried to woo you with the dress and finery. Maybe it’s not just about the work to me. Maybe I’m hoping you’ll come to think of me as more than a boss… or the man with something hanging over your head.”

 
Now we come to it.

  “Why?” Rita tilted her head. “I’m not the most attractive woman around. The last guy I dated thought it was a compliment when he called me hard looking. So what’s your deal? What about me is appealing enough to do something outside your norm with people you think failed you? Which, by the way, I protest that assessment.”

  “There’s so much more to a person than beauty,” Loch said. It was the first thing she agreed with him on and so far the only one that really made him remotely likable. “Honestly, you have qualities I appreciate in a person. I’ve never met a woman like you out here. They’re either too masculine or overly reliant on their friends to get by.

  “Not you. You walked into my compound bold as brass asking for money. Your reputation preceded you. I was planning on funding you anyway, but meeting you in person… I liked what I saw. Then, you evaded my people. Stayed out of our reach. It was pretty incredible. I don’t leave home for just anyone.”

  A different woman might take this as flattery. Rita found it hard to think of it that way. He came off as creepy in her opinion. Controlling. Anyone entering a relationship with Loch had a lot of issues to deal with. Narcissism, insecurity, paranoia… she wondered how long it took for him to amass all his disorders. He likely always had them. Money made them worse.

  “Just to sum up, you want a bodyguard you can eventually sleep with?”

  “That’s definitely simplifying,” Loch said, “but yes.”

  “And how old are you again?”

  “Forty-eight.”

  Rita blinked. “I’m not even thirty.”

  “What’s age?”

  More than a number, you old freak. Rita bit her lip to avoid sighing. Why am I struggling to go along with this? It’s an easy way to survive until we get somewhere. I can act if I’m trusted. She couldn’t just go along with it. Part of his ridiculous attraction came from her caution. Which meant he wouldn’t trust her if she agreed right away.